I was just congratulating myself on another zero food waste week here at Chez Green whilst I was doing the washing up and then I opened Little Miss Green’s lunch box.

Today she had a packed lunch because we had a busy ‘day on the go’ itinerary.

There, sitting forlorn in a brown paper bag was our food waste for the week.

If only I had known about it 8 hours earlier I could have saved the day.

Unfortunately this little fellow had been sitting in a hot car for most of the day and on the kitchen work surface since late afternoon.

So it is with great sadness that I present this week’s food waste:

A cheese sandwich.

I guess I should be sort of smug about it because the reason for not eating it was ‘I don’t like this bread, I love your home made bread’.

But still, in the name of zero waste, perhaps she could have stuffed a few morsels into her mouth of lesser quality shop-bought bread to save her country.

but then again; she does enough already.

I was going to try and salvage it; I was thinking of some savoury crumble topping; perhaps by leaving it to dry out some more and blitzing it in the food processor. I thought it might taste ok as a topping for some chicken and vegetables in a white sauce, but then I figured my feathered friends, along with the cat would probably enjoy it more.

So outside it is, awaiting the birds for breakfast time (or a midnight feast for the cat).

How much food waste did you create this week?

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I am a long time supporter of the Green and Sustainable lifestyle. After being caught in the Boscastle floods in 2004, our family begun a journey to respect and promote the importance of Earth's fragile ecosystem, that focussed on reducing waste. Inspired by the beauty and resourcefulness of this wonderful planet, I have published numerous magazine articles on green issues and the author of four books.

Feeding birds is my way of dealing with meat rinds, which are otherwise Bokashi’d. Local rooks are the regular weekly visitors for this. Every bit is scoffed in a matter of seconds so they are certainly hungry enough. One not so good development is the arrival of several seagulls which I prefer not to feed. There is a problem with these in many towns/cities and an end to this issue is not in sight, yet.

On a personal note Anna’s estate matters should be totally finished by next week. We are organising a fund for her husband Robert’s family, He passed away several years ago. Due to intestacy rules, under Scots Law, Robert’s family were excluded from the beneficiaries list. We, all 26, have decided to respect Anna/Robert’s memories by setting a sum aside. That should be concluded next week though we may have a get together for all the family.

On the Sweet Basil front, I gave away one of the best 3 plants to my local fishmonger/fruiterer. This was a smallish bushy plant with plenty of large leaf buds. The 5 remaining are going well, looking forward to more sun? in the months ahead. The idea of cutting/replanting a stalk section has been put aside since growth will be sufficient, and time is short. Next year improvements, to growing technique, will be added to maximise output, with many passed round again.

@Rob Whittle: Hi Rob, Countryfile has many good features, like AD. There is no doubt that sustainable options are emerging to counter the waste problem. Such positive moves are most welcome. We can do our bit by promoting these better alternatives. Renfrewshire, where I live, will be one of the first here, in Scotland, to get AD. East Renfrewshire has had home food waste collections for a decent period. They are providing an excellent example to others areas.

@Mrs Green. You will like this. I picked up this Junior consultation reply to the Welsh Strategy. I’m sure you and Miss Green will consider this important. Its termed “Don’t feed it to the birds” which I take it as seagulls at landfill; rather than lovely garden birds. I feed my garden birds on waste sausage fat and bread/seed balls; they love them; especially if prepared for winters.

@John . I totally agree. What I pity this present UK government/Defra has decided to “misinvest” £2,000,000,000 of our money eventually (PFI credits, off the books) largely into incinerators that burn vast tonnages of unsorted food waste; rather than investing similar qualities into better food waste AD facilities like yours at Renfrewshire and another that was pointed our to me at Selby. The government has given only £10m in AD; a technology they are pushing solely in fine words and policy hot air; rather than hard cash and more AD facilities on the ground for every town and city.

Fact: 25-30% of residual waste is food waste by weight; each household produces on average 8Kg of wasted food per week.

Question: How much money is earmarked for food waste collections and AD treatment in Gloucestershire compared to the likely Javellin Waste of energy Burner? This is a national scandle happening in front of our eyes, these vast misinvestments been proposed and rubber stamped in our so called democracy council chambers; where council bosses listen to waste consultants more than their local communities want; then avoid using their common sense thereafter.

Thanks for the Countryfiles link Rob. Very helpful. I do miss my Sunday morning dose of John Craven & Co 🙂

Landfills certainly do cause a problem with Seagulls. I went to a local one earlier in the year and I couldn’t believe how many gulls there were picking over the mountains of waste. There are regular articles in the press calling for culls, but if we just removed their food source, they’d go elsewhere. I wish people would understand that instead of keep calling for the councils to exterminate them all 🙁

Back to our backgarden feathered friends, I often put out the small bits of leftover foods. But sadly I’ve heard that the environment officers are advising people not to do this because it encourage rats. I’d love to see a rat climb the pole that my bird table sits on! Maybe I should give it a coat of something slimey just to make sure 😉

@Rob Whittle: Thanks Rob; I’m about to get Sunday Lunch, but I’ll watch that later; it seems some of our readers have enjoyed it 🙂 I’m also looking forward to reading the Junior consultation you have linked to.

@John Costigane: Hi John; we had issues with seagulls on holiday. I was watching a video the other day about landfill sites and how one uses a falcon to see off the seagulls!
Glad to hear Anna’s estate is reaching a resolution and I think it is great that you have decided to help your family. So many others get greedy where money and estates are concerned. But you are doing the right thing, which is honourable and commendable.
Are you completely well now?

@Poppy: Hi poppy; did you see the story in the Citizen a month or so ago about a lady who was asked to stop feeding bird because the neighbours had complained about rats? I felt very sorry for her; the birds were her friends and rats are about everywhere; they don’t appear because you have a compost bin or feed the birds; they are already there.

@Alea: Thanks Alea; I hadn’t thought of that aspect; now I feel better about the sandwich waste!

@Mrs Green: HI Mrs Green, Thanks for the comments. My good health is on the mend and now I can do the domestic chores with relish. The point about greed is well made and it has been a challenge for me and a senior relative to collect all the funds from the willing and the less inclined, who seemed to forget the generosity shown to us all as youngsters by Anna and Robert.

A particular incident, on the last day of her full conciousness before strong pain killers robbed her of wakefulness, shows her true character. My cousin Gerry, arguably her favourite nephew, and I, another favourite, were sitting at her bedside when Anna pushed a full bar of Mint Aero towards us from beneath the blanket. We were absolutely taken aback by this selflessness and consideration, typical of Anna. Someone else got the chocolate and after we related the story to others, it became a favourite for some.

The affairs are almost over, thank goodness, but Anna’s memory will live on for many.